First state-mandated units approved for Mona Vale
The NSW Government has approved a state significant development (SSD) for a residential development at 159 to 167 Darley Street West in Mona Vale.
Three six-storey buildings will stand between 20 and 21. metres tall, with 82 apartments (including 10 affordable housing units). The $95.3 million proposal amassed 146 submissions, with the majority in objection.
Mona Vale community group SOS (Save Our Suburb) Mona Vale was disappointed with the government’s decision to approve the build. John David is the convenor of SOS which has over 650 members and a petition with 1,600 signatures.
“I live next door,” Mr David told PL. “This is the first SSD approved for Mona Vale so it’s like a bellwether for the area. (Since approval) I have received a lot of emails and phone calls from people who are pretty much gutted by it,” Mr David said.
“It’s probably made the state’s plan for this area – which involved blanket rezoning of some 40 streets in Mona Vale – real.”
Independent Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby attends SOS’s monthly meetings. “Jacqui was the first call I received following the approval,” Mr David said. “She’s been a great advocate and is as emotionally involved as the rest of the community.”
Ms Scruby told PL that the decision to approve the development was a ‘blow for Mona Vale and a clear example of why the Labor/Liberal preference for developer led planning reforms fail communities.’
“I’ve recently worked with SOS Mona Vale to get their concerns heard by Premier Chris Minns, as well as speaking about their experiences and concerns in Parliament,” Ms Scruby said.
“Pittwater residents are not against development, but they are opposed to poorly planned developments,” Ms Scruby said. “This site should never have been zoned as R3 as it’s set in a tight cul-de-sac, and on a hill. Although the majority of Mona Vale is zoned R2, this is an example of the vulnerability of blanket reforms focused on R3 zoning that fail to take into account practical factors of the site in question, like traffic bottlenecks, access to infrastructure and bushfire risks.”
Mr David said that some amendments were made to the proposal following exhibition, such as privacy screens (Mr David’s bedroom window was initially in line with a living room). He said no change had been made to the size and bulk of the development, and that his home would be overshadowed from 11am daily. He is also concerned about traffic. “We’re in a cul-de-sac, and this development will double the traffic in the street through an intersection that blocks up now.”
The State Government’s low and mid-rise (LMR) housing reforms were announced in early 2025 and Mona Vale was declared a town centre. The reforms allow six-storey buildings in R3 zones within 400 metres of the town centre, and four storeys between 401 and 800 metres from a town centre. Mona Vale was named a town centre under the LMR reforms.
Other proposals under assessment (at time of print) included a seven-storey apartment block on 18 to 20 Darley Street, and an eight-storey block at 35 to 39 Darley Street, and a six-storey block at 1803/1803A Pittwater Road.
“The fight is not over,” Mr David said.